Journalist

Kit quandary: both sides played in their second strips. Photo: Getty Images

While the main talking point about the Spain vs Netherlands game will undoubtedly be the Netherlands' thumping the reigning champions 5-1, World Cup tragics have also been discussing why neither team were playing in their usual colours.

Spain’s uniform is usually red and The Netherlands' orange. But this morning they played in white, and blue.

Sports betting company Betfair tweeted an explanation as the game began.

The key rule that caused the cascade of uniform changes is FIFA’s rule against having both teams wearing their light kits or dark kits, rather than one in each.

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Spain was the first team listed on FIFA’s site, giving them uniform selection rights similar to being the home team. They chose their usual all-red uniform.

But the Netherlands' usual uniform is orange, which is too close to red and could cause confusion.

The Netherlands' away uniform is blue. But if the Netherlands played in blue, both countries would be wearing their dark kit.

Spain’s alternative kit is all black, which would return the teams to the same issue of similar colours.

So Spain had a third uniform designed in the lead up to the game.

FIFA has extensive uniform guidelines, designed to “enhance the sport through aesthetic creativity and design” that are set out in a 92-page Equipment Regulations booklet.

The guidelines lay out rules on everything from a four colour limit to the length of the sleeve free zone and the approval process for uniform changes.